Publisher's Synopsis
By reaching out to isolated groups without access to social services, community organisations have been helping alleviate poverty throughout Latin America. Adapting to the needs of communities, these organisations' have succeeded in mobilising the poor to find solutions to their own problems. Despite being smaller than corresponding state agencies, community organisations are generally more cost effective and efficient.;Community Organizations in Latin America suggests that governments need to recognise the potential of community organisations and encourage co-operation between the state and local groups. This book describes how these organisations interact with local communities and the public sector in Venezuela, Costa Pica, and Chile.;The authors offer policy recommendations that include increasing co-operation between the state and community organisations to strengthen the fight against poverty, devising regulations to guide that co-operation, and expanding sources of financing for the organisations.;Although demand for community organisations is growing, expansion could endanger both their capacity and quality. To provide services where the state does not, these organisations need external financing and better-trained staff. Community organisations must maintain their high level of professionalism while trying to increase their technical sophistication.
